Dr. Mokha is a great doctor. I started seeing him about a year and a half ago when my husband and I nearly got a corgi puppy, only to visit the breeder and find out that I was not just allergic to cats (which I knew about) but also dogs. After postponing the acquisition of a dog, I went in to Dr. Mokha's office and got tested. Yup, there I was, allergic to dog, cat, dust, dust mites, sage, and six kinds of grasses.
Dr. Mokha was very honest with me. He explained my chances of contracting allergy-related asthma if I went ahead with my dog plans without any sort of treatment. He also explained that the success rate of the shots varies--I would certainly experience relief, but I might not still be able to have a dog, depending on the circumstances. He explained the pros and cons of the shots as therapy, and noted that he wouldn't even consider starting me in the height of pollen season. (Which is when I had finally decided to move forward.) He explained that the shots are not a cure, but a long term therapy, and that we needed to do a lot of other steps to manage my exposure to allergens. (Things like HEPA air filters in every room, dust mite covers for the beds, getting rid of carpets and drapes where we could, and eliminating surfaces for dust to collect on.) After he had explained all this, and after he'd given me time to think about it, we decided to go forward with the therapy because even if I wasn't able to get a dog, I'd experience a great improvement in my quality of life.
So I began the shots. Dr. Mokha's staff (shout outs to Debra, Sean, and Ashley who are the ones I know best) are wonderful and welcoming. They really do their best to make the shots as easy an experience as possible, while safeguarding you from the side effects. They often supply me with icepacks for my arm welts, and make sure that I have access to my inhaler, and that I've taken my anti-histimines, the whole works. They are very professional. They even made sure that I had some prednisone right before my wedding day so my allergy shot welts would die down and not ruin my wedding photos. (I was on weekly shots at the time, and couldn't miss the scheduled shot.)
I did have one major reaction back in December. They decided to play it safe and sent me off to the ER for evaluation and further treatment. They reassured me and kept me updated on what this might mean for my future course of treatment. (Fortunately, I was able to continue at a lower maintenance dose.)
Anyways, I've been on maintenance since January, and early this spring noticed I didn't have the same heinous bronchitis I get every winter. I also didn't have any major pollen reactions. But best of all, I was able to be around animals again without major reactions.
Finally my husband and I decided to take the plunge. We checked out the breeder again, and found an adorable little girl puppy. After several weeks of me stress-testing my lungs, we decided to bring her home. (The breeder knows about my allergies and we have a week to see if she can be with us.)
I have been around a dog for the last 48 hours and I can still breathe just fine. I don't have itchy eyes, sniffly nose, wheezing. Things are looking pretty promising, and I've got my fingers crossed that they'll continue that well. Even if they don't, my lungs have improved so much that I can now do things like go play games at the houses of friends with animals without having to go home early.
I do have to note in fairness that not everybody's body chemistry is the same. Other people may not experience the same level of improvement, other people may experience more. And some people may not be good candidates for the particular therapy that I've undergone. But so far, my experiences lead me to believe that it is worth seeing if you can undergo this therapy. And I also wholly endorse Dr. Mokha and his staff. Their care and service has been top notch.
And I have a pet corgi sleeping in my kitchen RIGHT NOW. Boo-yeah! Take that, allergies! read more